Big Ten commissioner could join front office
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren has spoken to the Chicago Bears about the vacancy at the top of the organization and is a candidate to become the team’s next president and CEO, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because neither the Bears nor the conference or Warren were making the discussions public.
Warren’s resume includes multiple stops in the NFL and the Bears are searching for a president to replace the retiring Ted Phillips.
“We have not set a timeline for announcing Ted Phillip’s successor,” the team said. “Our search team has cast a wide net, spoken to many outstanding candidates and looks forward to introducing our next President and CEO at the process’s conclusion.”
The Big Ten released a statement, saying Warren “regularly receives unique opportunities and request for his expertise from leaders across a variety of industries, ranging from professional sports ownership groups to private equity firms.”
The statement said Warren remained focused on the Big Ten, its 14 member schools and more than 10,000 athletes.
Warren became the first Black commissioner of a Power Five conference when the Big Ten hired him in June 2019 out of the Minnesota Vikings’ front office to replace the retiring Jim Delany.
Warren drew sharp criticism early in his tenure when the league called off the 2020 fall football season because of the pandemic. The Big Ten reversed course five weeks later and played an abbreviated schedule after receiving guarantees that athletes could be tested for the virus every day and that there would be screening protocols for virus-related heart ailments for those who tested positive.
Warren worked in the NFL for 20 years, doing stints with the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions before settling in with Minnesota in 2005. He was the Vikings’ chief operating officer from 2015 to 2019.
Dolphins
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remained away from Miami Dolphins meetings, yet another indicator that his latest concussion will keep him sidelined for this weekend’s trip to face the New England Patriots and possibly even longer.
Nobody knows when he’ll be back. Not even his brother.
Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa — speaking in advance of Friday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina — told The Associated Press that he has offered his brother his opinion, but isn’t sure what will happen next.
“Everyone has their opinion,” Taulia Tagovailoa said. “My brother, I know he works hard. I know he has a family now. I want my brother to be safe, but at the same time I know that he has a love and a passion for football. I feel like he is going to make the right decision. The biggest thing is staying safe, so that is something he has to pray on. I know when it comes down to it, he will make the right decision.”
It’s not even clear when a decision will await the Dolphins’ quarterback, or what that may be. He’s in the NFL concussion protocol. Teddy Bridgewater is going through practices this week as the presumed starter for Miami against the Patriots.
Giants
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney has returned to practice after missing seven games with a broken left hand sustained during the team’s bye week. McKinney, a defensive cocaptain, was taken off the non-football injury list.
Packers
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is retiring as a Green Bay Packer after spending his first 4 1/2 seasons with that franchise. Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst announced that Clinton-Dix had informed the team of his decision to retire with the Packers. The Packers selected Clinton-Dix out of Alabama in the 2014 draft. He earned Pro Bowl honors with the Packers in 2016 and remained with Green Bay until getting traded to Washington during the 2018 season. Clinton-Dix had 14 interceptions with the Packers. He made 16 starts with the Chicago Bears in 2019, didn’t play any games in 2020, appeared in two games with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 and hadn’t played anywhere this season. He finishes his career with 16 interceptions.